“Where did the baptism of John come from: from heaven, or from men?
They reasoned among themselves:
if we say: "from heaven", then He will tell us:
"Why didn't you believe him?"
(Matthew 21:25)
History of great events. To begin with, I really liked the cycle started by Eduard Vaschenko, dedicated to the history of Ancient Rus. But this topic is truly immense, so he talks about some events in more detail. Some only mentions. Therefore, with his kind permission, I allowed myself to wedge myself into his topic and tell in a little more detail, firstly, about the first baptism of Russia, and secondly, about the global consequences of this event, which became perhaps the most significant point of bifurcation (metamorphosis) in history of mankind.
The first baptism of Russia
Well, now you can write that Christianity in Russia became known even before the official baptism of Russia under Vladimir I Svyatoslavich in 988. We are talking about the so-called first Baptism of Rus, which took place more than 100 years before this event, namely in the 9th century.
How did it happen?
It's very simple: conversion to Christianity was a traditional Byzantine practice in relation to pagan peoples who caused trouble for the empire. In the same IX century, the Byzantines tried to Christianize Great Moravia (862) and Bulgaria (864-920), so that Russia may have been the first, but not the last on this path.
The Rus attacked Constantinople in 860, after which the Patriarch of Constantinople Photius I sent his missionaries to Kiev, where they were able to christen Askold and Dir, and even a number of their entourage. However, there are reports that the first baptism of Rus took place later, during the reign of Basil I (867–886) and Patriarch Ignatius (867–877). But in any case, it was Askold's baptism that became the first in Russia, and the baptism of Vladimir was only the second, although, of course, more significant.
The second baptism of Russia
"The Tale of Bygone Years" tells that Prince Vladimir arranged a kind of "test of faith", that first in 986 ambassadors from the Volga Bulgaria came to him, offering him Islam. Then the ambassadors from Rome, who promised Catholicism, but they were also rejected. The Jews from Khazaria also received a princely "no" for the simple reason that Khazaria was defeated by Vladimir's father Svyatoslav, besides, the Jews did not have their own land. It is clear that such a religion was simply beyond the understanding of the Kiev prince.
It was then that the Byzantine arrived in Russia, called a philosopher for his wisdom. His words about faith sunk into the soul of Vladimir. But, being distrustful by nature, he sent the "boyars" to Constantinople to see how the rituals were performed according to the Byzantine faith. And those, having returned, made him very happy:
"They did not know where we are - in heaven or on earth."
And so it happened that Vladimir made his choice in favor of Greek Christianity.
It was said about the consequences of what the prince did in 1930 in the book "The Church and the Idea of Autocracy in Russia":
“The Orthodoxy brought to us from Byzantium broke and ruined the violent pagan spirit of the wild freedom-loving Ross, for centuries kept the people in ignorance, was an extinguisher in Russian public life of true enlightenment, killed the poetic creativity of the people, muffled in it the sounds of a live song, freedom-loving impulses for class liberation …Itself, drunken and toadying, the ancient Russian clergy accustomed to drunkenness and sycophancy before the ruling classes and the people, and with their spiritual booze - sermons and abundant church-book literature finally created the basis for the complete enslavement of the working people in the power of the prince, the boyar and the cruel official, the prince perpetrated judgment and reprisals against the oppressed masses."
Generations of Soviet youth were brought up on this, but then the attitude to the reform of faith in the same USSR underwent a serious change. In particular, in 1979 in the "Manual on the history of the USSR for preparatory departments of universities" it was said about this event as follows:
“The adoption of Christianity strengthened the state power and the territorial unity of the Old Russian state. It was of great international importance, which consisted in the fact that Russia, having rejected "primitive" paganism, was now becoming equal to other Christian peoples. The adoption of Christianity played an important role in the development of Russian culture."
As you can see, time softened the mores of not only the violent warriors of Vladimir, but also the Soviet communist propagandists from historical science.
However, there is no doubt that Russia by the act of baptism into the "Greek faith" was involved in the area of the so-called "Byzantine civilization". He provided the ancient Russian society with the opportunity to access the fruits of the millennial development of many sciences, introduced them to the hitherto unknown ancient philosophy, Roman law. And Russia, looking back at the Greeks, created its own institutions of power, focusing on the European community, starting with government and episcopate, right up to school and court.
Patriarch Photius, in his epistle to the Eastern Patriarchs (c. 867), reported earlier:
“… Even for many, many times famous and leaving everyone behind in ferocity and bloodshed, the very so-called people of Ros - those who, having enslaved those who lived around them and therefore being overly proud, raised their hands against the Rome state itself! But now, however, they too have changed the pagan and godless faith in which they lived before, for the pure and genuine religion of Christians … instead of the recent robbery and great boldness against us. And … they received a bishop and a pastor, and with great zeal and diligence they meet Christian rituals."
And indeed, daring and cruelty have disappeared. The "Tale …" says that Vladimir became completely different after his baptism. Where did the former fornicator and rapist go? Robbers multiplied in Russia … “Why don't you execute them? - they ask the prince. He replies: "I'm afraid of sin!"
Now it is difficult, and sometimes simply impossible, to isolate from our chronicles both the later insertions and direct borrowings from the Bible. Which, for example, even got into the description of the Battle of Kulikovo. In any case, without a doubt, the adoption of Christianity led to a softening of the mores of our ancestors and an acquaintance with the culture of peoples with whom the Russians had only had to fight before. By the way, this enrichment was mutual …
After all, Russia subjected Constantinople to siege three times - in 860 (866), 907 and also in 941. However, after baptism, attacks from the north ceased. It is also interesting that in honor of the miraculous deliverance of their capital from the siege of the Rus in 860, the Byzantines instituted the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, who interceded the city from the enemy.
And … if today this holiday is practically forgotten by the Greeks, then in Russia it is still revered as great and is solemnly celebrated by believers. The famous Church of the Intercession on the Nerl was also built in his honor. But the most surprising thing is that for our ancestors this battle under the walls of Constantinople ended … in defeat. So, perhaps, only two peoples in the world (Russians and Spaniards) celebrate their military defeat as a holiday! Which, again, says only one thing - time erases a lot from human memory. Moreover, the fact that the bad can turn to good, and good - to the worst.
But let's think so, in the order of "exercise for the brain", and what would have happened if Prince Vladimir had not succumbed to the subtle PR of the Byzantines, who brought his embassy "bolyar" ("children of the forest") to the temple of St. Sophia and allowed to be present during divine services, but would you have been a little more "literate", smarter and would have been guided by some other "dividends" from baptism? What would happen then?
First hypothesis
First, let's see what could have been - accept the Muslim faith? Then Russia would become an outpost of the Muslim religion in Europe. The teachings of Al-Biruni, Avicenna, the poetry of Ferdowsi, the rhymed prose of Abu Bakr al-Khorezmi would have been revealed to her centuries earlier, she would have learned who Jamil and Busayna, Majnun and Leila, Qays and Lubne were. The country would be covered with beautiful mosques and comfortable caravanserais. Naturally, bridges would be built of stone, like buildings. And all because the border needs to be strengthened.
Of course, there would have been fierce wars with Christians. But then Spain would also be Muslim! A war on two fronts, Christian Europe would not have survived. Look at the map of the spread of the Muslim religion, if it was accepted by Vladimir. The most sparing Christians option was chosen. And yet - how much green is it?
Modern Muslims would have practically inexhaustible reserves of oil and gas in their hands. All of India with its riches, North and Central Africa - colossal reserves of coffee and tea, valuable timber, diamonds, emeralds, gold. The power of the union of Muslim countries would be extremely great. And both America, Europe and some other territories would be Christian. That is, the world would be typically bipolar, but dominated by one powerful religion.
Second hypothesis
Well, if Vladimir had chosen Catholicism, the situation would have changed to the diametrically opposite.
On this map, all Christian countries are highlighted in red. And it is clear that the power of the powers united by one faith would be extremely great. Conflicts? Yes, they would be too. But they would be between “brothers in faith”. Reformation? Yes, it would start too. And it would have spread much more widely. Including Russia, which with the hard work of our people would bring fantastic results. In this case, too, the classical bipolar world would come out. That is, a fairly stable and stable social system. The huge territorial and human resources of Russia, both in that and in another case, thrown on the scales in the relationship of "brothers in faith", would undoubtedly be of decisive importance.
What happened
Not so with us today. Due to the fact that Vladimir chose the faith of Byzantium, a country rather weak, sandwiched between Catholics and Muslims, he won the independence of his throne, although he still did not escape cultural submission.
And it turned out that our allies by faith are Bulgarians, Serbs, Macedonians, Greeks … Nations whose states are very weak. We could not and cannot count on their help.
We have become a third party in this world. The third force, which neither Western Christians nor Muslims fully trust.
Roughly speaking, for the whole world we are like “manure in an ice hole. And he doesn't drown, and he doesn't swim so fast! This provokes countries of the same faith and culture to put constant pressure on Russia. Which, of course, does not make life easier for us.
And, in fact, we have no allies in faith in this world!
So just one decision of Prince Vladimir has changed the entire geopolitical alignment of balances and interests today. Has brought humanity to the brink of total nuclear war and complete destruction. If he knew that the consequences of his decision would be as follows, he probably would have acted differently …
And now we will look at the beauty created by human hands in the name of faith. Consider the iconic buildings of different countries of the world, both outside and inside …
All photographs in different years were taken by the author.
